Reds cruise to win over Sydney FC

Adelaide United have cruised to an impressive 3-0 National Youth League win over Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, leap-frogging their mid-table opponents in the process.

Adelaide United have cruised to an impressive 3-0 National Youth League win over Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, leap-frogging their mid-table opponents in the process.

Both sides fielded a host of familiar Hyundai A-League names, with the home side boasting striker Kruno Lovrek and defender Trent McClenahan in their line-up.

The visitors, for their part, included midfielder Zenon Caravella, left-sided flanker Iain Ramsey and former Sky Blues defender Antony Golec.

After a low-key opening, the match sprang to life with the visitors taking the advantage approaching the midway point of the first half.

Awer Mabil coolly wrong-footed the goalkeeper, slotting home from close range after profiting from a typically purposeful Ramsey run down the left flank.

Sydney striker Lovrek was then denied by some committed last-ditch defending, while almost immediately Adelaide's Thomas Briscoe cracked a shot against the crossbar.

The match continued to open up and Briscoe then shot wide from a difficult angle with the visitors narrowly failing to profit from a Sydney turnover in midfield.

The silkily skilled Mabil then turned provider dribbling into the penalty area and pulling the ball back for Caravella to turn and fire home, having been allowed far too much latitude by the Sky Blues' defence.

Mabil then set up two more gilt-edged chances in as many minutes as the Reds threatened to run riot.

Firstly, Ramsey was denied by a goal-line clearance, with Briscoe thwarted by goalkeeper Ryan Norval when through on goal.

It was a similar scenario after the break with Norval making a smart stop as Briscoe bore down on the Sydney goal.

At the other end Peter Triantis thudded an impressive low effort from outside the penalty area against the post as Sydney were denied a much-needed goal.

Briscoe finally got his reward just past the hour outjumping a static Sky Blues defence, directing a text-book close-range header into the net from a well-directed Jacob Melling free-kick.

The match lost some of its fluency following a raft of second-half substitutions but a solid Adelaide rarely looked troubled and comfortably held on for a deserved victory.

Sydney FC's afternoon was summed up as second-half substitute Aaron Calver was dismissed during injury time after collecting a second caution.